Video Games and Film

The PlayStation 1 was a bastion for RPGs, many of which have still yet to be surpassed to this day. Ranking them is nigh impossible, but the best PS1 RPGs can be set put into tiers of quality with the Top 3 standing out on their own.

I’ve always felt that there needed to be a good Samurai RPG, but I’ve yet to find one. A feudal Japan setting, with some added mysticism and the classic Japanese steel seems to be a natural habitat for a role playing game, however there hasn’t been that definitive game in said genre.

Metal Gear Solid is one of the best game series of all-time. A collection of convoluted plots, iconic story telling and generation leading graphics that have garnered both praise and alienation from gamers and critics alike.

As video games have become less for nerds and more a part of the mainstream and rap has overcome the prudishness of society the same way that rock 'n' roll had to, we've see these two huge pop culture influences combine; rap video games.

These are the top games per console generation. This is a personal ranking, and just because a great game is not on here doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy it, but it’s also easier to look back now on many of these games and realize how much time and attention I gave them, and how willing I would go back and play it again.

I was a little too young to really get into the original Nintendo (NES). I knew Nintendo, I had many friends that had them, and to me, Nintendo was what we all called videogames. I played my fair share of Mario Bros. and Duck Hunt but it never really evolved passed that.

Hyper Light Drifter is a highly original work, one that through the graphics, sound and music really separate it from others on the PS4. There are some flaws that prevent it from being a terrific experience, with difficulty spikes, directionless exploration and very minimal storytelling, but overall Hyper Light Drifter is a terrific experience.

Until Dawn is much less a traditional game by design than its contemporaries. Despite this, Until Dawn finds more gameplay mechanic variety to combine with its stellar cinematic influence than most other experiences, especially in the adventure genre it occupies.

Helldivers is one in a long line of recent twin stick shooters, and also one of the best in a genre striving for AAA status. Helldivers Starship Troopers inspired settingbrings an unmatched level of tactics to a genre that had little previously.

Broforce is a straight forward, side-scrolling action game built off of the mindless action movie tropes of the 80s and 90s. It's not exactly clever and the chaotic action sometimes ruins the experience but Broforce is a fun throwback to a simpler time.

Previews of the game looked gorgeous, as was the entire concept; Arthurian knights fighting mythical beasts such as werewolves and vampires set in a steam-punkish version of London, but gameplay previews were ho-hum and rumors of the game's length doomed it prior to release.

Rogue Legacy brings the charm of 8-bit gameplay combined with procedurally generated dungeons to modern consoles. Rogue Legacy is perfectly designed to pick up and go which makes it a good fit for the Vita.

Freedom Wars was previewed with the promise of an original, PlayStation Vita exclusive, AAA title. A game like this is rare for the Vita so expectations were high and maybe a bit unfair. Freedom Wars does a lot of things well but does struggle in some crucial ways to hindering its ability meet its lofty expectations.

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (SotN) is one half of the Metroidvania genre, one where it still reigns supreme and because it didn't to enter the 3D realm, it's looks are just as beautiful today as they were at the time of release.

Vagrant Story brought something different in terms of gameplay and story. Several tropes of the era bring down the experience preventing it from true greatness. These traits combined with some of the best presentation of the time, may have been unmatched in the land of RPGs.

Fear Effect looked different from the games on the market at the time of its release. Unfortunately, some aspects stand out as poor, especially by today's standards. These factors prevent Fear Effect from standing the test of time.

Crash Team Racing might be the best kart racer of its era. While it borrows heavily from its inspiration, the Mario Kart series, CTR exceeds Mario Kart in several areas which helped to further the kart racer genre.

Often overlooked or under appreciated due to being sandwiched between the genre defining Final Fantasy VII and the old-school influenced with a new coat of paint favorite, Final Fantasy IX, Final Fantasy VIII is just as good if not better than some of the best RPGs on the PlayStation.

The Mission: Impossible series has had its production hiccups but has grown to be one of the most popular franchises and a showcase for the spectacular, with each iteration one-upping the previous with more spectacle.

The Signal is a solid, albeit uneven science-fiction thriller focusing on the balance between intelligence and emotion that is crafted with technical care and explores a lot of questions that have been asked before.

Predestination's trailer is one of false hopes. Gunplay and explosions are ever present, interspersed with a time travel element made to look like an action movie. t's still intriguing, but it's a completely different, and a more than pleasantly surprising experience once you actually watch the movie.

Michael Mann as a director has produced many well critiqued films, almost enough that ranking them is more a matter of preference than looking at critical praise or box office success. Here is a list of Michael Mann's best films from the bottom to the top.

The friends are made to seem like they are from the the "poor part of town" but mostly they are just down on their luck. This causes a lack of empathy that makes it hard to root for the friends, but ultimately the music helps to overcome the film's shortcomings.